High impact information on btsz

• The Drosophila synaptotagmin-like protein bitesize is required for growth and has mRNA localization sequences within its open reading frame [1].
• Mutations that affect bitesize have reduced cell size and number, resulting in smaller animals that develop slowly [1].
• We also show that at least two classes of bitesize transcripts are localized to the apical plasma membrane in polarized epithelial cells [1].
• In the absence of E-cadherin, actin filaments are stable for a longer time than they are in btsz mutants [2].
• Spatial control of actin organization at adherens junctions by a synaptotagmin-like protein Btsz [2].

Biological context of btsz

• Thus, we have found that bitesize is a metazoan example of a transcript for which all identifiable mRNA localization sequences are contained within the protein-coding region [1].

References